The Hecate - Part II

Posted on Thu Jul 13th, 2023 @ 2:46am by Captain Robert Burke

1,187 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Mars - Utopia Planitia One
Timeline: Five days prior to launch

::ON::
Ian merely swivelled an eye once more at the Captain and grinned whilst deftly manoeuvring the shuttle to marry up with one of the starbase’s many docking ports.

‘Welcome to Utopia Planitia One, Captain. This is where I leave you.’ The Saurian pointed through the rear airlock doors as they opened, a slight hiss indicating the equalising of air pressures. Burke nodded to the noncom and got to his feet, gathered his travel bag and stepped on to Utopia Planitia One.

Glancing about, Burke saw the facility was new. The corridors were built in the latest Starfleet style, all clean lines and white panelling, and no dirt or grime had collected in the corners. As his data slate pinged, Burke followed the directional instructions fed to it by the facility’s Main Computer. The carpeted corridor muffled his strides. Who’s bright idea was this?.

It was, thankfully, a short walk from the docking port to the turbolift. Burke marvelled at the lack of personnel he passed as he went. Either they were all busy, or the more modern Starfleet facilities really were less personnel-intensive.

Grabbing the control rod of the turbolift, he muttered his destination just loud enough for the Main Computer to register it, and set off.
As the turbolift slowed, he tugged on his uniform sleeve and stepped out of the turbolift, only to be greeted by a bark of indignation. ‘A very fine thing indeed when a Commanding Officer almost collides with support staff.’

Nonplussed, Burke glanced off to the side where a short, portly Tellarite stood huffing. Smiling graciously, Burke inclined his head, ‘I assure you there was considerable distance between us. You were safe from a collision.’

The Tellarite grunted. ‘Perhaps,’ he allowed after a moment. ‘Lieutenant-Commander Zuhavn bin Gosevv. Supervisory Engineering Officer of the USS Hecate’s construction and initialisation.’ She drew herself up a little taller. ‘She is ready to be handed over to her Commanding Officer, although I’m not quite sure what qualifies you to be so.’

Burke’s expression tightened around the eyes as he sought to keep smiling and hide his irritation. Tellarite greeting rituals are exhausting, he thought to himself for the umpteenth time. ‘On the contrary, Commander Gosevv, I’m sure you’ll find my qualifications ample for the assignment. As I’m sure yours were too – no-one would seriously question a Tellarite’s engineering prowess, would they?’

Gosevv chewed her tusks for a moment as her people would say. She nodded, accepting the greeting. ‘Follow me. Unfortunately for the both of us, I’m not the only one here, otherwise we would be proceeding straight to the ship’s tour as you no doubt wish.’ A snaggle-toothed grin crossed her face, ‘and that I know you can’t argue with Captain.’

His smile returning to its default genuine, Burke nodded, ‘I’m sure I can endure a few minutes longer, if it means I get my ship.’
Beckoning, the Tellarite set off with a stiff gait, indicating that Burke should follow her. The taller human couldn’t help but notice the limp she had. Tempting to ask, but all that mock-indignation would make it a longer conversation. Better to look at her file later he thought.

From the turbolift hall, Burke followed Gosevv down a series of corridors, well-lit and painted in the neutral tones Starfleet was currently favouring – a far cry from the brash and bright colours of the sixties. Every so often Burke caught a frustratingly fleeting glance of the Hecate through the viewports. Gosevv was moving surprisingly fast.

As they rounded what turned out to be the last corner, Burke saw two more people standing and waiting there. One was a human male, taller than Burke, but much more slender, and in civilian clothes. The other was a shorter Denobulan female in Starfleet uniform, the white of command on her lapel strap. Burke nodded at the taller, dark-haired human, and saluted the Commodore.

‘Captain Burke, welcome to your hand-over,’ the Denobulan smiled and inclined her head. ‘Commodore Desen.’ She extended her hand, which Burke shook firmly with a polite smile. ‘Hecate came under my jurisdiction during her construction. You’ll be glad to know that there were no major hiccups from laying the keel down to completion. Zuhavn bin Gosevv was an excellent supervisor for the effort.’

The human cleared their throat, extended a hand, ‘Takeshi Kovacs, Confederated Martian Colonies’ civilian liaison to Starfleet. A pleasure to meet you, sir.’ Burke’s smile tightened imperceptibly at the interruption, but he took the hand proffered delicately to protect the Martian’s birdlike bones.

‘A pleasure to meet you both,’ he offered pleasantly. ‘Though, forgive me, Mister Kovacs, I’ve not had a civilian liaison greet me at any of my last postings.’

Kovacs straightened slightly at the direct questioning of his presence. ‘The Confederated Martian Colonies jointly sponsored the development of Utopia Planitia alongside the Starfleet Corps of Engineering. We won out over some quite considerable resistance from United Earth.’

Cutting in as Burke folded his hands behind his back and listened politely, Desen explained, ‘United Earth felt they were best placed to synergise construction and testing within Earth and Lunan space. The Lunar Colonies disagreed, and Starfleet itself felt the high level of orbital junk in that space would cause issues with the type of open spacedock and construction facilities we wished to utilise for the next generation of construction.’

‘Our plan was comprehensive, and Starfleet saw the sense of it – as much as you Earthers would enjoy centralising everything around the planet, the rest of us do have an equal say. The government felt it only right we be present at some of the handovers to, ah, better convey the benefits of Utopia Planitia.’

Smiling mildly, Burke shrugged his shoulders. ‘Being from Titan I wouldn’t really know what an Earther would enjoy these days. My address is Earth-based for Starfleet administrative purposes.’ He turned to Desen, ‘now Commodore, if I may see my ship?’

Kovacs looked nonplussed for a moment before turning to look at Desen with a perfectly neutral mask of an expression. Pursing her lips Desen nodded, ‘of course Captain. It would be our pleasure. Where would you like to begin?’ She motioned at the airlock behind them.
‘Main Engineering.’ Burke waved an arm in the direction of Gosevv, ‘I think it only sensible when we have an engineer here, and I’ve not seen an Excelsior-class vessel’s Main Engineering section before.’

Looking up from her data slate, Gosevv huffed, but nodded. Desen nodded in acknowledgement before turning to the airlock and keying in her code. The airlock hissed as the atmosphere between the station and the station equalised, and Burke’s heart quickened. He nervously flexed his fingers, loosening his stance.

[To Be Continued ...]

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Commodore Desen [NPC]
Hecate Project Supervisor
Utopia Planitia

Lieutenant-Commander Zuhavn-bin-Gosevv
HEcate Project Chief Engineer
Utopia Planitia

Petty Officer 'Ian' [NPC]
Shuttlecraft Pilot
Utopia Planitia

Takeshi Kovacs
Civilian Liaision
Confederated Martian Colonies Government

 

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